Washington, Colorado Allow Recreational Use of Marijuana

Washington and Colorado voters approved legalization of marijuana for recreational use, making them the first U.S. states to decriminalize the practice. Photographer: David McNew/Getty Images

Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Washington and Colorado voters
legalized recreational use of marijuana, making them the first
U.S. states to decriminalize the practice.

Washington will allow those at least 21 years old to buy as
much as one ounce (28 grams) of marijuana from a licensed
retailer. Colorado’s measure allows possession of an ounce, and
permits growing as many as six plants in private, secure areas.
Oregon voters rejected a similar measure.

“The voters have spoken and we have to respect their
will,” Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said in a statement.
“This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow
through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an
illegal drug so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too
quickly.”

Support for marijuana’s recreational use built on measures
that allow it for medical purposes in one-third of U.S. states.
Previous attempts to legalize pot through ballot measures failed
in California, Alaska, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada since 1972,
according to the Denver-based National Conference of State
Legislatures.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado said
federal law was not affected by the vote.

“The Department of Justice’s enforcement of the Controlled
Substances Act remains unchanged,” said Jeff Dorschner in a
statement. “We are reviewing the ballot initiative and have no
additional comment at this time.”

New Leaf

Washington, Colorado and Oregon were among six states with
marijuana on their ballots. In Massachusetts, residents approved
a measure to allow medical use, while Arkansas voters rejected
such a proposal. Medical-marijuana use is already permitted in
17 states and the District of Columbia. Montana residents voted
to restrict the use of medical marijuana, the Associated Press
said.

“It’s very monumental,” said Allen St. Pierre, executive
director of the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws, a Washington-based group that advocates
legalization. “No state has ever done this. Technically,
marijuana isn’t even legal in Amsterdam.”

The approval of recreational pot goes a step beyond its
acceptance in medical use. California was the first state to
permit medical-marijuana when voters approved it in 1996.
Federal prosecutors cracked down on the medical-marijuana
industry in California last year, threatening landlords with
jail if they didn’t evict the shops.

Looking Askance

“Regardless of state laws to the contrary, there is no
such thing as ‘medical’ marijuana under federal law,” according
to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released a letter a month
before California voters considered a ballot measure to legalize
recreational use of marijuana in 2010, saying the Justice
Department would “vigorously” enforce federal law. The
initiative failed.

In Washington state, decriminalization and new rules on
driving under the influence take effect Dec. 6. The state liquor
control board must adopt rules by Dec. 1, 2013 for licensing
producers, processors and retailers.

The Washington measure may generate as much as $1.9 billion
in revenue over five fiscal years, according to the state’s
Office of Financial Management.